AIDS tax by 14 countries added to airfares

[ArmandV]

I saw this article. It appears that Japan is not one of the countries agreeing to this. The U.S. also is in opposition.

"A group of 14 nations, led by France, has announced that they will impose a tax on airline passengers to help buy drugs for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

The tax is expected to raise more than $258 million a year.

Beginning on July 1, France will charge economy class passengers entering or leaving France one euro 窶 about $1.30 窶 for flights in Europe, and up to four euros for longer flights. First class and business class passengers will pay 10 euros in Europe and 40 euros elsewhere, the Los Angeles Times reports."

 

[budd]

i will pay it
nothings happening doing things THEIR way
who knows how many people died as a result of reagan's indifference/uncaring attitude

 

[DoctorP]

The US airlines will not do it, because they are saying they are already losing money. How the hell they can say they are losing money is beyond me. Hell, fire one executive and you just saved $500,000.

 

[ArmandV]

who knows how many people died as a result of reagan's indifference/uncaring attitude

None. They died from irresponsible and unprotected sex.

AIDS has been around 25 years now and people are still dying from it.

 

[Mike Cash]

I saw this article. It appears that Japan is not one of the countries agreeing to this. The U.S. also is in opposition.

"A group of 14 nations, led by France, has announced that they will impose a tax on airline passengers to help buy drugs for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

The subject line of this thread is misleading.

 

[leonmarino]

It seems like the French government is trying to collect money that is normally donated by civil society, probably to create a positive image for its people.

I think the problem lies not in the amount of money collected to fund AIDS-related projects, but the core lies in the massive trend towards liberalization of the healthcare market and increase in numbers of profit-seeking investors in the pharmaceutical industry, which make the necessary medicine more expensive, for many too expensive.

This whole liberalization trend hasn't brought the successes it promised, and because of failure to reset the whole process, the French government raises its taxes to save face. Raising taxes reduces consumption, which in turn worsens the economy. Who are they fooling?

 

[ArmandV]

The subject line of this thread is misleading.

Well, yes. It is actually the governments of the 14 countries levying the tax, but of course the airlines have to collect it for them.

 

[Mike Cash]

Well, yes. It is actually the governments of the 14 countries levying the tax, but of course the airlines have to collect it for them.

The subject line caused me to ignore the thread until now. I thought it must be some ignorant internet rumor being propagated by someone who slept through Civics class in high school. Then I saw it was started by someone I know is smarter than the average bear, so I decided to take a look.

 

[ArmandV]

The subject line caused me to ignore the thread until now. I thought it must be some ignorant internet rumor being propagated by someone who slept through Civics class in high school. Then I saw it was started by someone I know is smarter than the average bear, so I decided to take a look.

Thanks. Yes, I should have been more precise on the heading.

 

[Ewok85]

I don't get the airlines-AIDS connection. Sounds like they spun a wheel and picked at random...